allsky-rodgau.de

Now that I’ve got my Raspberry Pi 5 up and running reliably, I’m taking another big step towards completing my Allsky camera.

I have ordered the corresponding housing from Deep Sky Dad, which also includes the corresponding base plate. In addition to the mounting for my Raspberry, this base plate also contains a small circuit board that controls the integrated heater and another circuit board that provides the power supply for the heating circuit and the Raspberry.

Two cables run from the DC hub – a USB-A to USB-C cable to supply power to the Raspberry Pi 5 and a DC cable to supply power to the integrated heater. The DHT 22 temperature and humidity sensor is also connected to the Raspberry Pi 5.

The integrated heater automatically deactivates when the outside temperature exceeds 30°C and ensures that the dome of the Allsky camera does not fog up or even freeze even in rain and high humidity (which would be a great pity, as it is sometimes extremely clear in winter!)

And this is what the complete setup looks like:

I had actually chosen the Raspberry HQ Camera for my entry into all-sky photography. But by a stroke of luck, I was able to buy a ZWO ASI678MC camera on eBay at a very reasonable price. I use this camera in combination with a 2.5mm fisheye lens for my Allsky project.

For my Allsky project, I rely on a powerful camera unit—originally the Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera with M12 mount, but now replaced by the significantly more sensitive ZWO ASI678MC—combined with a DHT22 sensor for reliable temperature and humidity measurement. This combination provides robust sky images and, at the same time, precise climate data, which is essential for stable operation under changing weather conditions.